# NTSB LAX84FA071: Piper PA-24-250, N6295T, Oceanside, CA, November 25, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 1983, 20:05 local (Nov 25, 1983, 04:05 UTC) - Place: Oceanside, CA - Location: 33.1959° N, 117.3795° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oceanside, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1959&lon=-117.3795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23911/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA071 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - wing - overload (contributing factor) - wing - separation (contributing factor) - flight control,stabilator - overload (contributing factor) - flight control,stabilator - separation (contributing factor) - vertical stabilizer surface - overload (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - vertical stabilizer surface - separation (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF OCEANSIDE, CA & THAT MODERATE TURBULENCE EXISTED BELOW 20,000 FT. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO CLIMB & CRUISE AT 6000 FT. AT ABOUT 2005 PST, ATC LOST RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, ABOUT 1/5 MI FROM WHERE THE LAST TRANSPONDER REPLY WAS NOTED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED BOTH OUTER WING PANELS, THE RIGHT STABILATOR & THE VERTICAL STABILIZER HAD SEPARATED & WERE FOUND 130 TO 612 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. ALSO, THE REMAINDER OF THE EMPENNAGE HAD SEPARATE & WAS 31 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE & THE BOTTOM SECTION OF THE FUSELAGE & ROTATING BEACON WERE 823 FT AWAY. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE MAIN WRECKAGE HAD IMPACTEDIN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. ALL SEPARATED PARTS HAD EVIDENCE OF OVERLOAD FAILURE. PERSONNEL NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED "SHAFTS OF HEAVY RAIN." AT APRX 2018, A CESSNA 210 PLT RPTD HEAVY RAIN ABOUT 1 MI NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6295T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6295T-1984-05-14), registration cancelled 1984-05-14, S/N 24-1404, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1404 - Airframe hours: 2958 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Unlimited - Registered owner: Jerry J. Helmuth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1983, 1 hours before - Departed: SEE, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: EMT, EL MONTE, CA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,450 total, 2 in this make and model, 3,167 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 140 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CRQ, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19831124075119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831124075119A), Nov 24, 1983: Piper PA24250, Oceanside, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wing spar failure after entering area of heavy rain. Spar had delaminated due to heat process in manufacture. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.